Sheet counting and packaging machine



c. c. F. REININGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed oct. 7, 193s 13 sheets-sheet 1 r e Rg Qn m Tm N RM. N, R n. vm. m6.; .Q v fm. .QN .ww l l i l 1R A Ill# NN E Nm Nw N NN. @e a. O NN NWNN m o o M. J 'l NN MN N i @2 5 NN NNNN NNNN N J .NNN .In N NN- N NNN NNN n O MJMJNONVMHIHMNHKWIIHHHHHI Hmmm .Il .M a. Y n Nn. m. www.. H www@ SMN NMM..-HN .NN w N K\N il- En HMT. 1| Vwlll |1|` .f QM; k www. lmlhru. ulnlnwn. mVLtunHlnnu hh h"nu|l|v||||||l|.1l.n.l..n.v (III l U, l s NNN ......N.NN N- NNN NN NNN h i mm nl www QMQWN 0N N. N Nw NNN l 1 -QN NN NNN w NN fl 1 v W N NNN N NNN NNN NNN -NIN LN ..NN NFS: www@ Wmo: u VRI NN o NW NNN NNN NW a. N N NN g Nk-N QN Nk @vm WN MNM .WN

' July 28, 1936.

`July 28, 1936. c. c. F. R'EININGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed oct. fr, 1935 15 sheets-sheet 2 .o W mw n 0 www u... SS ww Wm m E, HH Kw1 mwr :I ma m A am L M r n www u m um d im www l. Il# mg k e N NN vm uw rl July 28, 1936. c. c. F. REININGER SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed oci. 7, '1953 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 28, 1936. c. c. F. REiNlNGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7. 1933 Ziyi 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 '.July 28, 1936. c. c. F. REININGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1953 13 Sheets-Sheet 5/ INVENT'OR /f ATTORNEY July 28, 1936. c. c. F. REININGER `SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed oet. 7, 1955 lssheets-sheet 6 MII,

NN NNN BY /lv 'ATTORNEY' July 28, 1936. c. cfF. REININGER 0499225 SHEET. COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1933 l5 Sheets-Sheet '7 wwwa ATTORNEY July 28, 1936- c. c. F. Rr-:lNlNGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Zig, Z0

'T/ INVENTOR i July 28, 1936.

C. C. F. REININGER SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed oct. 7, 1955 ig rl 15 sheets-sheet 9 lillll.'

fnA-TTORNEY July 28, 1935- c. c. F. REININGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1953 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR July 28, 1936 c. c. F. REYININGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Fi1ed oct. '7, 1933 1:5 sheets-sheet 11 y 1W 502?.11.1111211111111L L @55% if@ 301 9/ 29628 3 29025@ l 90 ff/'1 y g1 1 vl//Q L. FFL-1:.'-

ATTORNEY JUIY'28, 1936- c. c. F. REININGER 2,049,022

SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVEENTOR SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1933 l5 Sheets-Sheet l5 ga/z @5252.,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET COUNTING AND PACKAGING MACHINE ley Stream, N. Y.

Application October 7, 1933, Serial No. 692,609

27 Claims.

My invention relates to sheet counting and packaging machines and refers more particularly to a machine for automatically accurately counting relatively small sheets of paper or the like, or more or less similar articles, compressing them together and securely binding them' into firm bundles or packages, each containing any desired predetermined uniform number of such accurately counted sheets or the like.

The counting and packaging machine of my invention as herein disclosed has been particularly designed and proportioned for thus counting and packaging the currency bills of paper money. Such an automatic machine has before it a rather extensive unoccupied or open eld of utility in banks and other institutions where relatively large quantities of paper currency or bank notes must be counted and tied or otherwise bound up in packages. Heretofore as a matter of common and extensive practice this work has been done by hand, and so far as I am advised the machine of my present invention is the first -practically operable machine for doing this work automatically, rapidly and accurately.

It is to be distinctly understood, however, that the automatic machine of my present invention is in no wise limited to the above noted particular use. Without any change whatever therein the herein disclosed embodiment of my invention :may be in like manner used for similarly counting and packaging any kind of data-bearing, or blank slips, or small sheets having the dimensions for which the paper-handling parts of this particular machine have been built, i. e., of the same size and proportions as the bank notes or bills of paper currency.

For similarly counting and packaging other relatively small sheets or the like of different size and proportions, only slight changes and rearrangements will be required in the sheethandling parts of the machine. For example, the machine can thus be readily adapted for counting and packaging envelopes, or postal cards. For similarly handling larger sheets, for example, letter size, which it is desired to count accurately and securely bind into packages, it is only necessary to build the machine, or parts Jthereof, on a correspondingly larger scale, as will be readily understood.

Other more particular objects, advantages and valuable attributes of the sheet counting and packaging machine of my invention will hereinafter appear.

My invention includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as will appear from the following description. I shall now describe the automatic sheet counting and packaging machine embodying my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims. In these drawings similar parts are designated by similar reference numerals.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a sheet counting and packaging machine embodying my invention, as it appears in an automatically operating condition near to the beginning of such an automatic cycle of operation.

Figure 2 is a front side elevation of the machine as viewed from the rear in Figure 1, but with the machine in an idle condition, previously to the starting of its rst operation.

Figure 3 is a rear side elevation of the machine in operation as viewed from the front in Figure 1, with the idle position of parts of the machine shown in broken lines.

Figure 4 is a front end elevation of the machine in the idle condition of Figure 2 and as viewed from the right in Figures l and 3 and from the left in Figure 2, this being the feed or intake end of the machine.

Figure 5 is a rear end elevation of the machine as viewed from the left in Figures 1 and 3 and from the right in Figure 2, this being the discharge or delivery end of the machine, with the parts of the machine at this end not yet in operation.

Figure 6 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the machine taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a packaged bundle of small sheets, such as paper currency, which have been automatically counted and packaged by the machine of my invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged partial front elevation of a suction-operated counting disc as viewed in Figure 2 which automatically controls the operation of the entire machine, the starting position of this disc being shown in Figures 2 and 8.

Figure 9 is a similar View showing the position of this counting and controlling disc after it has been operated through ninety degrees constituting a quarter turn of step-by-step rotative counting movement of this disc.

Figure 10 is an enlarged partial transverse vertical section taken on the lines Ill-Ill of Figures 1, 6, and 11, but with the adjacent end of a pawl lever at a different operated position than appears in Figure 1, this pawl lever co-operating with the counting disc and being a factor in the control of an air vacuum valve, and also further VSO erated by the counting disc.

Figure 11 is a similarly enlarged partial longitudinal vertical section taken on the lines I I-i I of Figures l and 10, with the counting disc and the circuit-controlling disc at their idle or stationary position, as in Figure 10.

Figure 12 Ais a further enlarged partial horizontal section taken on the line I2-l2 of Figure 11, showing further features of construction of an automatically controlled circuit-controlling switch which similarly appears in plan view in Figure 1.

Figure 12a is a partial horizontal section taken on the line 12a/ 12a of Figure 10 showing the adjacent end of the above noted pawl lever for the air vacuum valve at a diierent operated position which is the position of this pawl lever shown in Figure 1.

Figure 13 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on the irregular line I3-l3 of Figure 6, showing features of construction of a suction-controlled sheet-pulling and piling device which appears in each of Figures 1 to 6 inclusive.

Figure 14 is a vertical section longitudinally of the machine taken on the line l4-l4 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a similar section taken on the line I5-I5 of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a segregated elevation, indicated by the lines lili6 in Figures 1 and 4, of a valveoperating cam movement for the air vacuum valve and which similarly appears in full line elevation at the right hand end of Figure 3, this cam movement being shown as in operation in Figures 1, 3, and 16.

Figure 17 is a similar view showing the normally idle or stationary position of this cam movement, which is in part indicated by broken lines in Figure 3.

Figure 18 is a partial longitudinal vertical section taken on the line |8-i8 of Figure 4 showing a cam movement for operating insertable and withdrawable horizontal sheet-supporting pins, with this cam movement in operation as in part similarly appears in Figure 3 at the top and right but mostly there concealed by the cam movement illustrated in Figure 16.

Figure 19 is a similar view showing the normally idle position of rest of this cam movement in which the sheet-supporting pins have been withdrawn and as in part appears in elevation from the other or front side of the machine at the top and left in Figure 2.

Figure 20 is a much enlarged partial transverse vertical section taken on the line 20-20 of Figures 1 and 2, showing an automatically operated circuit-controlling switch which similarly appears in elevation in Figure 4.

Figure 21 is a partial longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 2|-2l of Figure 4 showing a slide-operating pile-moving and packagedelivering cam movement, together with its adjuncts, at its normally retracted non-operating position, which also similarly appears in Figures 3 and 6 as well as in Figure 2 at the left.

Figure 22 is a similar view of this cam movement showing a subsequent position in the course of its operating movements.

Figure 23 is a similar partial view showing an intermediate position during the operation between the positions shown in Figure 2l and in Figure 22 respectively.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 23 but showing positions of parts during the continued tion shown in Figure 22.

Figure 25 is a much enlarged partial transverse vertical section taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 24 and showing the same operating position of the several parts, and shows features of construction relating to one of the package-delivering vertical ejector pins.

Figure 26 is a partial transverse horizontal section of the machine taken on the line 26-26 of Figure 3 showing principally one of the transverse cam-carrying operating shafts together with its immediate adjuncts.

Figure 27 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 21-21 of Figure 26 and shows the normally idle or stationary position of a clutch-operating cam movement, for feeding a packaging strip, this cam movement also in part appearing in opposite elevation from its other side in Figure 2.

Figure 28 is a view similar to Figure 27 showing the clutch-engaging operating position of this cam movement.

Figure 29 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on theline 29-29 of Figure 26 showing the normally. idle or stationary position of a cam movement for operating a movable shearing jaw to sever the packaging strip, this cam movement also in part appearing in plan view in Figure 1 and in elevation in Figure 5.

Figure 30 is a view similar to Figure 29 showing this cam movement in operation.

Figure 31 is a longitudinal vertical,;section taken on the line 3I-3I of Figure 26 showing the normally idle or stationary position of a c am movement to operate an air-pressure valve, for applying adhesive to an end portion of the severed packaging strip, this cam and valve movement similarly appearing in elevation from its other or outer side in Figure 2.

Figure 32 is a view similar to Figure 31 showing this cam as having operated such air valve in the course of operation of the cam.

Figure 33 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 33-33 of Figure 26 showing the normally idle or stationary position of a cam movement for operating a. plunger carrying a pressure plate and provided with a pair of folding jaws for bending the packaging strip, this cam movement also similarly appearing in part in Figure 6 and in Figure 3, as well as in opposite elevation from its other side in Figure 2 and in plan view in Figure 1.

Figure 34 is a view similar to Figure 33 showing the operation of this cam movement.

Figure 35 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 35--35 of Figure 26 showing the normally idle or stationary position of a double cam movement for folding together the ends of the packaging strip, this cam movement similarly in part appearing in elevation in Figure 6.

Figure 36 is a view similar to Figure 35 showing the right hand or front end element of this cam movement in an operating position.

Figure 37 is a section similar to Figure 35 taken on the line 31--31 of Figure 26 and showing the normally idle or stationary position of the other element of this cam movement, similarly to what appears in Figure 6.

Figure 38 is a view similar to Figure 37 showing the latter cam element of this cam movement in an operating position.

In order to enable a quicker grasp and clearer comprehension of my invention and of the construction shown in the accompanying drawings for carrying it o'ut, it is well to note brieiiy at this point the general characteristics and principles of operation before proceeding with a description in detail of the several parts and features which are combined to form the complete co-organization which constitutes the sheet counting .and packaging machine of my invention as a whole.

Sheets in a hopper have compacting pressure applied thereto. These frictionally held sheets are drawn edgewise one by one from the hopper by means of a moving suction device. A sheet carried by the suction device causes the suction to operate a counting disc, so that thereby the latter will not be operated unless a sheet is carried by the suction device. When the desired predetermined number of sheets have been stacked in a pile by the suction device the counting disc causes a valve to close which shuts olf the vacuum from the suction device and a1; the same time initiates the operation of'a composite device for removing and subsequently packaging the counted sheets. Immediately a temporary false bottom, which may comprise horizontal sheet-supporting pins or rods, is inserted in spaced relation above the stack of counted sheets, iollowed by the opening of the previously closed vacuum valve, thereby again starting the interrupted sheet pulling and counting operations, these sheets being now deposited upon the inserted horizontal pins or the like.

A slide now moves away the pile or stack of counted sheets, after which this slide returns to its original position and stops there. When this slide has thus returned the sheet-supporting pins .are withdrawn. While this slide is returning the removed stack of sheets is bound into a firm bundle or package. A strip of paper or the like is passed over this stack, severed from a roll thereof, the stack compressed, the severed strip folded around the compressed stack and the overlapping ends of this strip are glued together. When the above noted slide again moves for removing the next succeeding stack of counted sheets, an ejector device will deliver this bound package out of the machine at the rear end thereof, by means of upwardly projecting automatically controlled ejector pins carried by the slide in advance of the unbound stack of sheets which is at the same time being moved to the binding or packaging position by this slide.

The automatic sheet counting and packaging machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings as an embodiment of my invention will now be particularly described.

Preparatory to starting the operation of the machina a collection of sheets I, I are placed on edge in collated relation upon the bottom 2 of a feed hopper, between its sides 3 and 4, and against its rear end wall 5, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, this hopper also having a front end wall 6. These collated sheets I, I are pressed together into compact relation and against the rear wall pulleys I2, I2 which are mounted on and beneath the hopper bottom 2 near its rear end, thence the cable I I extends forward over respective similarly mounted pulleys I3, I3 at the front end and has a weight I4 hung thereon, all as clearly appears in Figures 2, 3, 4, 6 and 13. Thus the weight I4 will cause the follower 'I to apply a uniform compacting pressure to the sheets I, I regardless of their number or the position of the slidable follower. This pressure may be adjustably varied by making use of a heavier or lighter weight I4, or by having this weight in sections, as indicated in the drawings.

It will be noted from Figures 5, 6 and 13 that the rear end wall 5 of the sheet hopper terminates at its lower edge some distance above the rear end of the hopper bottom 2, which latter desirably terminates slightly short of the end wall 5. The lower margin of the rearmost of the sheets I is thus exposed rearwardly, in the particular instance shown to the extent of nearly half the Width of this sheet, with the lower edge of this sheet free, While its upper marginal portion is pressed against .and frictionally gripped rather strongly by the rear end wall 5 of the hopper, thereby providing for the drawing out and removal of this sheet downwardly and rearwardly. An automatically acting device for withdrawing the sheets I, I successively one by one and stacking them in a pile will now be described, such device being more particuiarly shown in Figures l to 6 inclusive, 13, 14 and l5.

A horizontal transversely extending sucker tube I5 has its ends xed respectively radially outward from the center in end heads I6 and I1. These heads I6 and I'I are centrally xed upon a horizontal transverse shaft I8 which continuously rotates during the operation of the machine thereby continuously revolving the sucker tube I 5 transversely of its length in a circular orbit. In the particular construction shown in the drawings three such sucker tubes I5, I5, I5 are employed, all being equally radially spaced from the shaft I8 and equally circumferentially spaced from one another on the heads I6 and I'I. The head I6 appears at the front or towards the bottom in Figure l, at the left in Figure 4, at the right in Figures 5 and 13, while the other head I'I appears towards the top of Figure 1, at the right in Figure 4, at the left in Figure 5, in elevation in Figure 6 and at the left in Figure 13.

In line with each suction tube I5 the head I6 is provided with an eduction port I9 through which suction may be applied to this end of the tube I5, and similarly in line with the other end of each suction tube I5 the other head I'I is provided with an induction port 20 whereby suction within or through this tube may be applied to points beyond the head I'I. Each of the suction tubes I5, I5, I5 is similarly provided with a longitudinal series of soft rubber suction cup nozzles or nipples 2|, 2| which are respectively securely but removably and replaceably held in hollow bosses 22, 22 which are rigidly carried by the suction tube I5, which has a perforation in line with the suction hole through each of the nozzles or nipples 2I, 2| as is clearly shown for one of these tubes in Figure 13.

All of the nipples 2|, 2I and bosses 22, 22 project radially relatively to the operating shaft I8, with the cup-shaped suction mouths of these nipples projecting beyond the bosses 22, 22. The number of suction nipples 2|, 2I in a series along the respective suction tubes I5, I5 may be varied as desired, being shown in the drawings as four. The operating shaft I8 is at a level slightly above the hopper bottom 2 and is sufficiently spaced rearwardly so that, with no suction in the tubes I5, I5, the suction ends of the nipples 2|, 2| will barely graze or desirably not quite touch the exposed lower margin of the rearmost of the compacted sheets I which has its upper margin pressed against the inner face of the rear wall 5 of the hopper.

The outer end faces of the rotatable heads I6 and I1 are at and smooth and are shown as provided with shallow annular anges. The outer end portions of the operating shaft I8 are journaled in similar bearings 23 and 24 which are xedly mounted on a strong top plate 25 forming a part of the frame of the machine, each of these bearings being in the form of a bracket having an inner extension surrounding the shaft I8. An outwardly sleeved disc or plate 26 has its sleeve portion splined over the bearing 23 for slight sliding but non-rotative movement, and an in general similar but not identical outwardly sleeved disc or plate 21 is similarly splined over the other bearing 24 for similar sliding but nonrotative movement. The inner faces of these discs are flat and smooth and are respectively seated in sealing relation against the outer smooth nat faces of the respectively adjacent rotative sucker heads I6 and I1. These discs 26 and 21 are pressed into sealing relation with the respective heads I6 and I1 by means of similar sturdy thrust springs 28, 28 surrounding the extensions of the bearings 23 and 24.

The operating shaft I8 rotates in a direction to carry the orbitally revolving sucker tubes I5, I5, I5 and their suction nipples 2|, 2| downwardly at the front of this shaft between this shaft and the sheet-containing hopper, as indicated by arrows in several views of the drawings, it being noted of Figures 14 and l5 that there the arrows indicate only the rotation of the shaft I8, since the sealing plates 25 and 21 are stationary, as above noted. The sealing plate 2S has a terminal section 29 of a suction pipe connected thereto at the forward portion of its outer side at the level of the shaft I8 and opening to the inner face of this plate through a port 30, the radial position of which coincides with the eduction ports I9, I9 of the sucker head I6.

An arcuate groove 3| in this inner face extends downwardly and rearwardly from the port 30, being shown as of a length somewhat less than ninety degrees. This groove is shown in full line face view in Figure l5 and for clarity of comparison has been indicated in dot-and-dash lines on the opposite sealing plate 21 in Figure 14. It will be evident that as the sucker head I6 rotates any one of its eduction ports I9 will be in communication with the suction pipe section 29 during the passage of this port I9 along the groove 3|, while during the remainder and longer arc of such rotation this port I9 will be closed by the sealing face of the plate 26. Thus suction may be applied to the nipples or suckers 2|, 2| of a sucker tube I5 only while this tube is traversing the arc of the groove 3|.

As shown most clearly in Figure 14, the other stationary sealing plate 21 has in its inner face an arcuate groove 32 which is much shorter than the groove 3| in the sealing plate 26, being shown as only about one-fourth the length of the latter groove. This groove 32 radially coincides with the induction ports 20, 2U in the sucker head I1 and thus in radial position similarly coincides with the groove 3| in the sealing plate 26. This shorter groove 32 is opposed to the lower portion of the longer groove 3|, with the lower end of this groove 32 shown as stopping slightly short of or not quite extending into line with the lower end of the longer groove 3|. The sealing plate 21 has a port 33 through it from the lower end of its groove 32, so that thus the groove 32 extends forwardly and upwardly from this port. This port 33 opens into a suction pipe 34 which is connected to the sealing plate 21 at its outer side and is utilized for a purpose to be described later.

A relatively short distance rearwardly from its port 33 and similarly rearwardly beyond or out of line with the rear end of the groove 3| in the sealing plate 26, and shown as directly below the shaft I8, the sealing plate 21 has through it a relief port 35 opening outwardly to the atmosphere. This port 35 is in the path of movement of the induction ports 20,' 20 of the sucker head I1 through which this port 35 admits air into a sucker tube |5 which destroys the residual vacuum therein at this point in the revolving moveo ment of such sucker tube. As will later clearly appear, the vacuum in a sucker tube I5 will not be destroyed through its induction port 20 by the groove 32, port 33 and suction pipe 34. Except while traversing the arc of the short groove 32 and again while in communication with the relief port 35, the induction port 20 of each of the revolving sucker tubes I5, I5, I5 will be closed by the sealing face of the plate 21, in the particular construction shown.

Means for applying vacuizing suction to the pipe section 29 will be described later. It will now be evident from the preceding description that with suction applied to the pipe section 29, as each revolving sucker tube I5 cornes down to about the level of the shaft I8 at the front thereof, as shown for one of these sucker tubes in the drawings, particularly in Figures 6 and 13, the series of sucker nipples 2|, 2| on this sucker tube will have suction applied thereto whereby they will seize the lower margin of the rearmost of the collection of collated sheets I, I closely adjacent to the lower edge of this sheet. The gripping of this sheet against the outer ends or mouths of this series of the soft rubber suckers 2|, 2|, due to the pressure of the outer air, seals these suckers against the entrance of such air.

This sheet I will now be drawn out of the hopper downwardly and rearwardly, this movement of such sheet being facilitated by reason of the fact that its lower edge becomes its leading edge during such movement. When this sucker tube I5 comes just about to its lowermost position, the partial vacuum therein will be destroyed by the admission of atmospheric air into such sucker tube, as above described, whereupon the series of sucker nipples 2|, 2| of this tube I5 immediately releases this sheet for the latter to descend by its own gravity in a substantially horizontal position. Thus the sheets I, will be successively withdrawn and stacked in a pile, through the co-operation of means to be described later. When no suction is applied through the pipe section 29, as will be described later, then the above described sucker device will simply rotate idly and none of the sheets I, I will be withdrawn from the feed hopper.

The means by which this sucker device may be continuously rotated will now be described. A main drive shaft 36 is journaled in bearings on the frame of the machine at the rear side thereof and inclines downwardly and rearwardly from the front end of the machine. A bevel pinion 31 fixed on the upper end of this shaft 36 meshes Cil `jacent end of the countershaft 52.

with and drives a bevel gear 38 fixed on the adjacent outer end of the sucker device shaft I8. This drive shaft 36 also is provided with connections for driving a major number of other parts of the machine, as will appear later.

It is desirable that the machine of my invention shall be self-contained. Accordingly, an electric motor 39, forming a main driving motor for the machine, is mounted upon a lower platform 40 which forms a part of the machine frame. The shaft 4| of this motor is directly coupled to an aligned shaft 42 extending out of a gear box 43 containing reducing gearing and having a transverse shaft 44 the outer end of which is geared to the inclined drive shaft 36 by means of a pair of bevel gears 45, 45. The reducing gearing nested within the gear box 43 may be of a usual type, the details of which are unnecessary to illustrate, since such devices are well known. Some of these are of a type providing for effecting changes in speed, and obviously that type may be employed in the machine of my invention, if so desired.

A vacuizing device for applying sheet-pulling suction to the pipe section 29 includes an exhaust pump or vacuum pump 46 mounted upon the platform 40. In the illustrated machine, this exhaust pump, which as to its working parts may be of any suitable construction, is driven by means of an independent electric motor 41 mounted upon the platform 40 and geared to the pump 46 by means of a belt 48 and speed-reducing pulleys 48A and 48B. This exhaust pump 46 has an upwardly extending vacuum pipe 49 connected thereto and is provided with an outlet 49A to the atmosphere. The vacuum pipe 49 is connected to the pipe section 29 through an interposed vacuum-controlling air valve 56.

This vacuum valve 50 is shown as of the slidable plunger or piston type, having a valve stem 5l which when withdrawn forwardly opens thel valve to establish communication of the vacuum pipe 49 with the pipe section 29 and which when pushed inwardly or rearwardly closes such communication, so that then the suction produced in the vacuum pipe 49 by the exhaust pump 46 cannot be transmitted or applied to the pipe section 29. Actuating means for imparting valve-opening or valve-closing movement to the slidable stem 5l of the vacuum valve 50 are controlled in their operation by a combined counting and controlling device next to be described. Such opening and closing movements of this valve occur sequentially at different stages in a complete cycle of automatic operation of the machine. Also this valve is subject to manual control in its operation, as will be described later.

In order to drive other parts of the machine not yet described, asI previously mentioned, the machine has a transverse shaft or countershaft 52 journaled in bearings on its frame towards the top and front end thereof below or forwardly from the inclined main drive shaft 36. This countershaft extends through the machine from side to side and is geared to the main shaft 36 to be continuously rotated thereby by means of a worm 53 fixed on the drive shaft 36 and in engagement with a worm gear 54 fixed on the ad- In the particular machine shown, the direction of rotation of this countershaft 52 and its gear 54 is countercockwise as viewed from the rear side of the machine in Figure 3 and as there indicated by the arrow.

At the front side of the machine, a supporting bracket 55 is fixedly secured to the top frame plate 25 from the edge of which it extends outwardly and thence downwardly. The outer end of a stationary sleeve 56 is fixed in the lower end of the depending arm of this bracket 55, a set screw 51 being shown for this purpose. surrounds the outwardly extending end portion of the countershaft 52, which may freely rotate therein, the inner end of this sleeve being provided with a radial flange, shown in Figure 10. Adjacent the bracket 55 the sleeve 56 has thereon a spacing collar 58.

The above noted combined counting and controlling device includes a composite but unitary member which is freely rotatively mounted upon the stationary sleeve 56 between its inner end flange and spacing collar 58. This member comprises a counting and controlling wheel or disc 59 adjacent to the sleeve collar 58 and a circuitcontrolling disc 60 adjacent to the sleeve flange and with its circuit-controlling peripheral disc portion spaced from the counting wheel 59 by means of a boss or hub on this circuit-controlling disc 60. The circuit-controlling disc 60 is connected to the counting wheel 59 to be rotated thereby by means of pins 6 l, 6|. The body part of This sleeve 56 F the circuit-controlling disc 60 is of insulating material and its fiange or rim portion has a gapproviding concentrically arcuate conductive contact element 62 firmly set therein and extending through it smoothly or evenly ilush therewith at both of its opposite faces. The electric circuit which is in part controlled by the rotatable circuit-controlling disc 60 will be described later.

The counting and controlling disc 59 is a ratchet wheel having on its periphery a continuous circular series of ratchet teeth 63, 63 by which it is adapted to be rotated step by step and tooth by tooth in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2, 8 and 9, which is in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from its inner side in Figure 11. In the particular machine shown, this counting disc 59 has one hundred ratchet teeth 63, 63. A loosely pivoted gravity pawl 64 is engageable with the teeth 63, 63 to prevent reverse or retrograde movement of the counting disc 59, this pawl being mounted upon a forward extension of the bracket 55.

An upstanding backwardly and forwardly swinging actuating lever 65 for the ratchet wheel counting disc 59 has at its lower end a fulcrum pivot 66 on the bracket 55 below the upper edge of this peripherally toothed disc. 'I'his lever 65 loosely pivotally carries an actuating pawl 61 engageable with the ratchet teeth 63, 63. This actuating pawl 61 is a gravity pawl the unfailing engagement of which with the ratchet teeth 63, 63 is assured by a pawl spring 68 mounted on the pawl-carrying lever 65.

In order to rotate the counting disc 59 to the extent of a single ratchet tooth 63 for each backward and forward rocking movement of the actuating lever 65, the tooth-engaging end of its actuating pawl 61 must travel at least slightly more than the spacing between the ratchet teeth 63, 63, and safely less than the distance between twofof these teeth. In the illustrated construction, the backward disc-rotating movement of this actuating pawl is limited by means of a stop pin or stud 69 which projects from the bracketk 55 into the path of movement of the actuating lever 65 and against which the latter may abut. The forward `idle or retractive movement of this alongside of its piston sleeve 12.

actuating lever is limited by stop means which will presently be described.

A single-acting air motor of the reciprocating piston type and operated by atmospheric air pressure induced by suction is provided for imparting rocking movements to the actuating lever 55, whereby step-by-step rotative movement is transmitted to the counting and controlling disc 59, together with the circuit-controlling disc 60 carried thereby, as above described. This vacuum motor has a cylinder provided with a supporting bracket 1I by means of which it is rigidly mounted on the frame of the machine at the top of the front side thereof at the iront end, with the cylinder 10 extending longitudinally of the machine in line with the upper end of the rockable actuating lever 65. The head of the cylinder 10 next to the actuating lever 65 xedly carries a projecting sleeve 12 through which a piston Arod 13 slidably extends from the cylinder 10, the

outer end of this piston rod being slidably guided by a bearing 14 on the upper part of the bracket 55.

The piston rod 13 xedly carries a pair of spaced similar collars 15, 16 which are adjustable longitudinally of this rod by means of the small set screws shown in Figure l. The upper end of the actuating lever 65 extends between the spaced collars and 16 and is of bent shape so that it extends inwardly across above the piston rod 13 between these collars and downwardly between these collars in hook form at the back of the piston rod, as shown in Figure l. A thrust spring 11 on the piston rod 13 is interposed between its outer end bearing 14 and the neighboring piston rod collar 15.

Obviously, movement of the piston rod 13 will move the actuating lever 65. The spring 11 has a constant tendency to return the piston rod 13 and actuating lever 65 to and maintain them at their normally retracted idle position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 11. In the construction shown, this return movement of the piston rod 13 is limited by means of a collar 18 xed upon and forming a. head for the remote end of the piston rod and adapted to abut against the back face of the bracket 55 at the rear of the piston rod bearing 14, as appears most clearly in Figure 5. Obviously the stop collar 18 may be adjustable if desired, similarly to the operating collars 15 and 16.

The outer end of the above mentioned suction pipe 34, which is of the bent shape clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, is connected to and opens into the motor cylinder 1U through its head' end With suction applied to a sucker tube I5 through its eduction port I9 and with all of the sucker nipples 2|, 2I of this sucker tube closed by means of a sheet I carried thereby, as above described, then while the induction port 2D of this revolving sucker tube I5 is traversing the shorter groove 32, suction will be applied to the suction pipe 34 directly through this sucker tube. The outer head end of the cylinder 10 is provided with a port 19 through which this end of the cylinder is in communication with the atmosphere.

Thus when suction is applied to the other end of this cylinder through the pipe 34 the piston rod 13 will be forced out of the cylinder, overcoming the opposing force of its return spring 11, thereby rotating the counting disc 59 to the extent of one of its ratchet teeth 63, 63, as above described. As soon as the induction port 20 passes beyond the lower or rear end of the groove 32 in the stationary sealing plate 21, the Suction applied to the motor cylinder 10 through the pipe 34 is discontinued, this induction port 20 then being closed by the sealing 'face of the plate 21. Immediately after this a relief port 80 through the rotating sucker head I1 is brought into register with the upper or forward end of the slot 32, which it traverses. This admits atmospheric air into this inner end of the suction pipe 34, which destroys the remaining or residual vacuum in this pipe and similarly in the cylinder 10.

It will be noted from Figure 6 that there are three such relief ports 80, 80, 80 through the sucker head I 1,"one such port for each of the three sucker tubes I5, I5, I5 and its corresponding induction port 20. When the vacuum in the cylinder 10 is thus destroyed, the return spring 11 acts instantly to retract the piston rod 13 and pawlcarrying actuating lever 65 to their original position shown in Figures 1, 2 and ll. A one-tooth step of counting movement will be similarly imparted to the counting and controlling disc 59 for each of the revolving nipple-carrying sucker tubes I5, I5, I5. At times when the vacuum valve is closed, it will now be evident that the counting disc 59 will not be operated, while the sucker tubes I5, I5, I5 then revolve idly and no sheets I, I are carried or withdrawn by their sucker while suction is being applied through the open n valve 50 to the sucker tubes I5, I5, I5, as above described, should the series of sucker nipples 2 I, 2 I on these tubes fail for any reason whatever to withdraw a sheet I, then no counting actuation of the disc 59 will take place. This might occur, for example, by reason of such sheet being wrinkled, crumpled or folded in such a way as to fail to close all of the nipples 2l, 2| in a series thereof on a sucker tube I5. With one or more of these sucker nipples left open, the consequent entrance of atmospheric air into a sucker tube I5 would prevent the forming of an operatingy vacuum in the motor cylinder 1U. Thus an absolutely accurate count of the sheets I, I is assured under all conditions.

The opening and closing movements of the slidable valve stem 5I of the vacuum valve 50 are directly under the control of the counting and controlling disc 59, as will now be described. Also the operation of this vacuum valve is indirectly under the control of the circuit-controlling disc 60, as will be described later. It should here be noted, as already described, that the counting disc 59, as well as the circuit-controlling disc 60 carried thereby, is itself in turn controlled as to its operation by the vacuum valve 50.

The margin of the counting disc 59 at its inner face has therein a recess BI the leading face of which is inclined and the trailing or following face of which is abrupt, as clearly shown in Figure 12a, where the direction of counting movement of the disc 59 is indicated by an arrow. The vacuumcontrolling valve 50 is adapted to be operated through the intermediary of a bell-crank lever 82 having a vertical fulcrum pivot on the frame of the machine, with a longer outwardly extending arm pivoted to the end of the valve stem 5I and with a shorter actuating arm extending towards the front end of the machine, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The adjacent end of a long transversely extending valve-operating link 83 is pivoted to the shorter arm of the bell-crank 82 and extends across to the front side of the machine. A stationary slideway or guide 84 is provided on the front end of the machine for supporting and trolling disc 59.

stiffening this link, which, as will be noted from Figure 4, is bent downwardly and then outwardly adjacent the front side of the machine.

At the front side of the machine a longitudinally extending horizontal pawl lever is pivoted intermediate of its length upon the lower portion of a downwardly extending bracket arm 86 which is xedly mounted on the top plate 25 of the machine frame. The adjacent end of the long transverse valve-operating link is pivoted to the front end of this pawl lever 85. The rear end portion of this pawl lever extends adjacently to the inner face of the counting and controlling clisc 59 and terminates in a pawl end tooth or detent 81 which projects towards this disc 59. This detent is shown as directly above the axis of the disc 59 and as disposed in the path of its recess 8| as this disc rotates, the detent 81 having an abrupt rear face at the end of the pawl lever 85 and having an inclined front face.

A retractile spring 88 connected to the tail arm of the pawl lever 85 adjacent to the link 83 and having its other end anchored to the machine frame exerts a constant tendency to urge the stem 5| of the vacuum valve 50 to its closed position and at the same time to press the pawl lever detent 81 towards and against the inner marginal face of the counting and con- 'disc 59 has made one complete rotation, comprising one-hundred counts, the spring 88 will snap the detent 81 into the recess 8|, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, at the same time closing the vacuum valve 59.

This discontinues the withdrawal of sheets I, from the feed hopper and concomitantly discontinues the step-by-step rotative counting movement of the disc 59, as already described. The sucker tubes I5, I5, I5 will now revolve idly while the counting disc 59 is locked against rotative displacement in either direction, being locked against forward movement by the detcnt 81 and against backward movement by the holding pawl 64 as well as also by its inactive actuating pawl 61. This is the starting position of the counting disc 59, shown in Figures 1, 8, 10 and 11, as well as also in Figure 12a. In thecontinued automatic operation of the machine, the vacuum valve 5U will be subsequently opened, for thereby resuming the sheet-pulling and counting operations, through the operation of means soon to be described.

A sectional bipart bedplate, consisting of the sectional parts 89 and 90, suitably spaced below the top plate 25, is xedly mounted in the frame of the machine to extend from end to end thereof. The two sections 89 and 98 are similar and substantially alike excepting that one of them is of right hand construction and the other left hand as viewed from the front end of the machine in Figure 4. The right hand plate part 89 towards the front side of the machine is shown in inner edge view in Figures 6, 21 and 22 and in cross section in Figures 13 and 25, while the left hand plate part 99 towards the rear side of the machine is shown in part in outer edge view in Figure 3 and in cross section in Figure 13. T'he opposed inner edges of the bed-plate sections 89 and 90 are straight and Thus as the disc 59 is rotated l during a sheet-pulling and counting operation,

spaced apart, as shown in the drawings, so as to leave a rather wide open slot between them.

As the withdrawn sheets I, I are released by the suckers 2|, 2|, as above described, they descend within a vertically disposed rectangular enclosure or chute 9| the top of which rises slightly above the top plate 25 and the bottom of which is closed by the bedplate parts 89 and 90. The descending sheets are guided into the top of the chute 9| at the ends of such sheets by means of a pair of lateral ribs 92, 92 the upper edges of which curve around the peripheries of the respective sucker heads I6 and I1. In the construction shown these guide ribs form extensions from the lower portions of a pair of brackets 93, 93 by which the feed hopper is supported and which are xedly mounted upon the top plate 25.of the machine. These sheets I, I are guided into the chute 9| from the adjacent free edge of the hopper bottom 2 by means of a pair of inclined wings 94, 94.

The possibility of the released sheets passing beyond the chute 9| is prevented by means of a pair of upstanding forwardly turned stripper fingers 95, 95 xed upon the top plate 25 and projecting upwardly close to the path of the revolving sucker tubes I5, I5, I5. The rear wall of the chute 9| is open in the space between the top plate 25 and the bedplate sections 89 and 90. The rear edges of descending sheets I, I are there guided by means of a pair of freely swinging gravity fingers 98, 98, one of which is shown in Figure 6 while the other is shown in Figures 18, 19, 21 and 22. These latter guide fingers are pivoted at their upper ends to strips 96A, 96A which extend longitudinally of and are secured to the lower side of the top plate 25.

A group of elements which co-operate to form a device which automatically removes to another location the stack of counted sheets I, I which have accumulated in a pile, of one hundred in this instance, upon the bedplate sections 89 and 90 at the bottom of the chute 9| will now be described. The operation of this device is periodical, such operation being automatically initiated each time immediately following the completion of a counted pile of sheets I, I and being automatically discontinued with such device reset for its next succeeding operation. The central element in such device is a transverse cam shaft 91 journaled in bearings fixed upon the front end of the platform 40. In the automatic operation of the machine, this cam shaft is periodically driven from the continuously rotating countershaft 52 through the intermediary of clutch-controlled connections.

Another transverse cam shaft 98 is journaled on the frame of the machine towards its rear end rearwardly from and diagonally below the countershaft 5,2. The individual adjuncts of this latter cam shaft will be described later. cam shaft 91 is driven from the cam shaft 98. For this purpose, these two cam shafts are coupled together, for unitary rotation in the same direction and at the same rate, by means of a downwardly and forwardly inclined coupling shaft 99 journaled in bearings fixed to the frame of the machine. The coupling shaft 99 is connected to the rear end cam shaft 98 to be rotated thereby by means of a pair of similar bevel gears |00, |90, and is connected to the front end cam shaft 91 for driving the latter by means of another pair of similar bevel gears IUI, IUI. In the particular machine shown in the drawings, the direction of rotation of these coupled cam 60 v 'I'he 

